Little Big Man

Directed by: Morton DaCosta
Screenplay by: Marion Hargrove
Based on: The Music Man 1957 play by; Meredith Willson Franklin Lacey
Produced by: Morton DaCosta
Starring: Robert Preston, Shirley Jones, Buddy Hackett, Hermione Gingold, Paul Ford
Music by: Meredith Willson, Ray Heindorf
Production company: Warner Bros. Pictures
Release date: June 19, 1962
Content: General

Plot: In 1912, a slick con artist named Professor Harold Hill rolls into the made-up town of River City, Iowa, with plans to trick the locals. Some travelling salesmen nearby have caught wind of Hill's reputation for scamming folks by convincing them to cough up cash to start boys' marching bands. He pretends to be a music expert and then bolts as soon as he pockets their cash.

Hill finds out that River City is where his old friend Marcellus Washburn lives; with Marcellus's assistance, Hill raises concerns among the parents in River City that their sons are being led astray by the new pool table in town. He proposes that a marching band would keep the boys occupied and out of trouble. Hill suspects that Marian Paroo, the town's librarian and piano teacher, is onto him, so he decides to win her over. Mayor Shinn, who owns the billiard parlour, is also suspicious and demands that the school board check Hill's qualifications. When they try to do so, Hill distracts them by teaching them to sing as a barbershop quartet. From then on, Hill manages to get them to break into four-part harmony every time they ask for his credentials.

Hill's attempts to win over Marian, who is pretty sceptical of him, don’t really go anywhere. However, he does manage to impress her mom and becomes friends with her sad little brother, Winthrop. When Marian finds out that Hill's story about graduating from Gary Conservatory is just a bunch of nonsense, she tries to call him out on it, but then the Wells Fargo wagon shows up and interrupts her. After a long time of being moody and withdrawn, Winthrop finally joins in with the townsfolk's singing and gets super excited about his new cornet, which makes Marian rethink her stance on Hill. Hill then tells the boys they can learn to play using the Think System, where they just have to keep thinking about a tune and they'll magically know how to play it without any practice.

End of Spoilers

HOME SCRIPTURE BOOK REVIEWS POETRY RECIPES GARDENS FILM REVIEWS	The Music Man Directed by: Morton DaCosta Screenplay by: Marion Hargrove Based on: The Music Man 1957 play by; Meredith Willson Franklin Lacey Produced by: Morton DaCosta Starring: Robert Preston, Shirley Jones, Buddy Hackett, Hermione Gingold, Paul Ford Music by: Meredith Willson, Ray Heindorf Production company: Warner Bros. Pictures Release date: June 19, 1962 Content: General Plot: In 1912, a slick con artist named Professor Harold Hill rolls into the made-up town of River City, Iowa, with plans to trick the locals. Some travelling salesmen nearby have caught wind of Hill's reputation for scamming folks by convincing them to cough up cash to start boys' marching bands. He pretends to be a music expert and then bolts as soon as he pockets their cash. Hill finds out that River City is where his old friend Marcellus Washburn lives; with Marcellus's assistance, Hill raises concerns among the parents in River City that their sons are being led astray by the new pool table in town. He proposes that a marching band would keep the boys occupied and out of trouble. Hill suspects that Marian Paroo, the town's librarian and piano teacher, is onto him, so he decides to win her over. Mayor Shinn, who owns the billiard parlour, is also suspicious and demands that the school board check Hill's qualifications. When they try to do so, Hill distracts them by teaching them to sing as a barbershop quartet. From then on, Hill manages to get them to break into four-part harmony every time they ask for his credentials. Hill's attempts to win over Marian, who is pretty sceptical of him, don’t really go anywhere. However, he does manage to impress her mom and becomes friends with her sad little brother, Winthrop. When Marian finds out that Hill's story about graduating from Gary Conservatory is just a bunch of nonsense, she tries to call him out on it, but then the Wells Fargo wagon shows up and interrupts her. After a long time of being moody and withdrawn, Winthrop finally joins in with the townsfolk's singing and gets super excited about his new cornet, which makes Marian rethink her stance on Hill. Hill then tells the boys they can learn to play using the Think System, where they just have to keep thinking about a tune and they'll magically know how to play it without any practice. End of Spoilers Review: Made at the time when musical movies were still a big thing in the US this movie embodies all that is quaint and unique about the times it was set in. A wonderful mixture of music, mischief and mayhem. With the con artist looking to turn a quick and easy profit at the cost of a small town. A simple enough plot. Then things become tricky when love enters the equation. The characters are fun and over the top. While the small town reflects many such small towns at the time. With the usual gossip and intrigue. Be sure to keep track of whom is talking about whom. It can get a bit tricky. As always popcorn is a must. Musical talents are not required as you will learn. MJ Flack